May's Cocktail of the Month: the Aviator

A lost classic

The original old-school Aviator cocktail was invented by barman Hugo Ensslin at New York’s Hotel Wallick almost a century ago. It was made with crème de violette, resulting in a cocktail that was as blue as the sky, hence the name! This cocktail was lost during the Prohibition years, but the recent resurgence of classic liqueurs and quality spirits has put it back on the agenda.

Oo-la-la!

We think that crème de violette's distinctly floral aroma might not be to everyone's taste, so have tweaked the mix by replacing it with Parfait Amour - the Liqueur of Love! This has a fresh citrus tang, paired with the pronounced taste of Madagascan vanilla. Oo-la-la!

Perfectly balanced

So take an aromatic gin - we recommend Aviation, available from Love Wine - and combine with the almond-y, subtly bitter Maraschio liqueur, velvety Parfait Amour and a squeeze of vibrant lemon juice, and you'll have a delicious fruity cocktail with perfectly balanced sweet and citrus notes. Ideal as the sunny spring days warm into summer. Cheers!

The Aviator

Ingredients
60ml Gin
15ml Maraschino liqueur
7ml Parfait Amour (or crème de violette)
20ml Lemon juice

Method
Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice.
Shake, and strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with a cherry, if desired.

Share this: